SIANFU INCIDENT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21410, 28 February 1935, Page 13

SIANFU INCIDENT

# CHINESE COMMUNISTS* ATTACK ATTEMPT TO LOCATE CAPTIVE (Received February 27, 11.20 p.m.) SHANGHAI, February 26. A letter received from Sianfu, the capital of Shensi, describes the tragij events following the entry of communists into Ningkiang in headlong flight before the Government troops. Mr Frencham and his wife were at the house of the Chinese commander of the Ningkiang garrison, where Mrs Frencham was acting as midwife the commanding officer's wife. Frencham and the Chinese commander left the house for the purpose of arranging details of their flight. They were last seen surrounded by communists, and being escorted outside the city, while serious street fighting was still in progress, and a portion of the city in flames. Later the dead body of the commander's wife was discovered but there was no trace of Mrs Frencham. Two missionaries set out on foot from Sianfu to endeavour to locate Mrs Freicham, facing a 12 days' journey across the mountains in the bitterest weather, but with little hone of success. The Government dispatched four divisions to the scene of the latest communist outrage, where intensive preparations were made to surround the Reds. MISSIONARY'S WIFE REPORTED DEAD (Received February 27, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, February 26. The "Chronicle's" Shanghai correspondent reports that the Chinese bandits have killed Mrs Ruth Frencham.